Ian Symmonds
Thought-leader, strategist, author, speaker, and consultant - these are just a few of the roles that Ian Symmonds enjoys. Ian is the visionary president and founder of Ian Symmonds & Associates Inc. Over the past decade, Ian has served over 160 independent schools, colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations through enrollment, marketing, branding, and strategy counsel.
Long before a consultant, however, Ian was a practitioner. His professional practice as a senior officer, executive director, and dean spans nearly two decades including Pacific University, Culver-Stockton College, Saint Mary's Hall, and Trinity University. He is one of the few highly successful enrollment and marketing professionals in the nation experienced in recruiting and retaining independent school students, traditional undergraduates, and graduate and adult students. He led dramatic enrollment turnarounds for three different private institutions during this career.
Ian has published in numerous professional journals, such as the Journal of College Admission (NACAC) and On Target (College Board), and has presented at just about every national and regional conferences. He holds a BS and MS degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He is in high demand as a conference speaker at regional and national venues.
Ian consults on several projects each quarter, speaks and writes frequently on behalf of ISA, and also manages the overall ISA brand and company. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Lisa, daughters Makayla and Jules, and Rajah and Rhani, his loving and irreverent labs. In his spare time, he is an avid tournament tennis player and enjoys exploring the beauty of the Northwest.
Office: Portland, Oregon
Email: ian@iansymmonds.com
Extension: 888.334.6078, #704
Jack Symmonds
Holding down the fort is Jack Symmonds, managing front office duties for ISA as well as conducting project research. Jack studied psychology at Knox College and brings a wealth of understanding of qualitative research. He also possesses extraordinary people skills and brings high attention to detail to our work, proofing our presentations and managing our end product.
Jack handles much of our survey research, including telephone surveys and the implementation of our web surveys. He handles several other research inputs, including competitor analysis and perceptual and opinion leader data. A master of the effective use of consulting technology, Jack also manages the extensive use of our client collaboration web portals, including creating pages, teams, and issuing authorizations for our clients. Jack also handles our billing and accounts receivable with current clients.
Finally, Jack serves as the front line for our ISA virtual office, answering the phone and connecting with clients and project inquiries. Have a question for our firm or want to get in touch with our office? Jack is the one to email or ask. He offices in Illinois, right in the middle of the nation and between the various time zones of our clients.
Office: Central Illinois
Email: jack@iansymmonds.com
Extension: 888.334.6078, #706
Kelly Laboe
Kelly is ISA's "jack of all trades", playing a role in multiple aspects of the business. Kelly brings to the ISA team tremendous energy, high level professional capability, and contagious "can-do" attitude. She is also no stranger to working on a team with Ian, having worked with him in many capacities beginning in 2001 as Assistant Director of Admissions at Pacific University.
She joined Ian Symmonds & Associates in 2005 and has since held many roles for our firm. Throughout her time with us, she has completed many different types of research and consulted on enrollment management projects. Currently, Kelly holds several roles for ISA. She schedules and conducts some of our most interesting research interviews - opinion leader research - for our many strategic planning, marketing, and branding projects. She also lends her recruiting expertise to partner in managing search projects.
Kelly holds an BA degree from The University of Connecticut in Political Theory. Kelly and her husband Edward live in Portland, Oregon. In her "spare time", Kelly serves on a local school board, is an active community volunteer, and is always on the go with her two lovely girls Emma and Madeline.
Office: Portland, Oregon
Email: klaboe@iansymmonds.com
Extension: 888.334.6078, #705
Robert Rytter
Robert Rytter, president and creative director of Jensen Design Studio, has more than 30 years of experience developing and executing strategic marketing campaigns for colleges and universities. An advocate of integrated one-to-one marketing, Robert promotes targeted marketing efforts in all mediums: collateral materials, website and interactive design, public relations and advertising.
Robert graduated from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) with a degree in painting; he has served on the faculty there as an instructor of advanced graphic design. Robert also attended the MLA program at the Johns Hopkins University and the business program at Loyola College. He has been a guest lecturer for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the University of Maryland. His work has been recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, CASE, Communication Arts, the New York Art Directors Club, the Type Directors Club of New York, the University & College Designers Association, the Washington Art Directors Club, Graphis and Print, among others.
A long-time strategic partner, Robert and his firm has collaborated with ISA on many projects, including Roanoke College, Hutchison School, Brookstone School, Westminster College, Columbia College, Altamont School, New College, Roland Hall, St. Martin's Episcopal School, and many more.
DOWNLOAD OUR WORK: Want to see our creative process? Here is a portfolio of our work, as well as quick guides for graphic identity and video production best illustrate our design and creative process.
Office: Baltimore, Maryland
Email: rrytter@jensendesignstudio.com